Cascade-amalgamator



L. M. KELLOGG. CASCADE AMALGAMATOR.

i APPLICATION man JuLvs, lazo. 1,386,875 Patented Aug. 9, 1921'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. M. KELLOGG.

CASCADE AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION mso JULY e. 1920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- In web for LEWIS M. KELLOGG, 0F SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

CASCADE-AMALG-AMATOR.

nasceva,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Application filed July 6, 1920. Serial No. 394,357.

To all whom t may concer/n Be it known that l., Lnwrs M. KnLLoGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cascade- Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mercury amalgamators in which mercury is used to recover precious metals from their ores and sands, and the objects of my invention are to provide in such a device' a means by which the mercury is broken into globules and disseminated through the ore pulp followed by an adequate mea-ns for collecting and reuniting the mercury; more specifically to provide a terraced mercury cascade over which the mercury and ore pulp are caused to flow in intimate association; the device consisting of the novel features herein shown described and claimed.

Vith reference to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diametrical sectional elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the right hand side of the device as shown in Fig. 1, with an ore feed hopper removed.

F ig. 3 is a fragmentary top view of left hand side of the device, as shown in Fig. 1 with a rotating cover removed.

ln carrying` out my invention a circular basin 1 is provided at the center of which is erected a cascade structure 2 comprising the terraces 3, 41- and 5 each terrace being provided with an annular mercury basin 6, 6, 6. Throughy the center of the cascade structure is formed a bearingin which is rotatably mounted a Shaft 7.

The fioorof the basin is substantially flat and is encircled by a low wall 8. From the rim of the wall and extending outwardly is a bib 9 having a mercury coated surface which is inclined toward the basin. Hori-VA formed a merzontally through the wall is cury discharge port 10. A mercury discharge means 11 is positioned on the bib having a channel 12 in open communication with the mercury discharge port, a chamber 13 extending above the level of the bib 9, a filter element 13a within the chamber, a mercury seal 14 and a rim 15, and being provided with a mercury discharge conduit 16 and a cleaning water conduit 17a. The discharge conduit 16 is connected to the suction side of a gear pump 17 by the opera` tion of which the mercury is passed upwardly to the head of the cascade by the conduit 18. A tailings discharge launder 19 is disposed about the basin.

A rotating cover 20 is fixed to the top vof the shaft 7 and overhangs the cascade 2, the basin 1 and the bib 9. That part which surrounds. the cascade conforms to the terraces and is spaced therefrom forming an annular channel 21; that part which covers the basin is disposed at such a level. that it is partly submersed into a body of mercury, the normal level of which is shown vby a dotted line 22 and that part which overhangs the bib 9 rotates closely thereto providing a tailings discharge crevice 23.

An ore feed hopper 24: is mounted upon the top of the cover and above the cascade and which is in open communication with the channel 21 of the cascade structure by means of ports 25.

Anode pockets 26 are disposed about the cascadecover having porous bottoms 27 and insulating linings 28, and within the pockets thus formed are placed replacab'le anode elements 29. A conductor ring 30 is fixed to the top of the cover and insulated therefrom.

A: brush 31 fixed to the chamber 13 and insulated therefrom is provided to carry current to the ring 30 from which it passes v to the anodes 29 by conductors 32.

In the operation of the device, mercury is filled into the basin 1 up tothe level of the dotted line 20 and into the basins 6, 6', 6 of the cascade, the outside mercury system being also filled.

The mercury entering at the vhead of the cascade from the pump 17 overflows each succeeding'terrace 3, 4 and 5 falling into the basins 6, 6, 6, thence into the main basin 1 from which it overflows through the port 10, through a filtering element 13a, under the seal 14, over the rim. 15 and again tO the pump 17 by the conduit 16.

The shaft 7 is rotated slowly by any suitable means, such as the worm gear shown in Fig. 1, thus rotating the cover 20. Ore pulp carried enteredinto the hopper 2a from which it passes down into the channel 21 by the ports 25. Here it meets and mingles withv in an adequate flow of water isv pulp then` by the conduit 17a.

tion of the cover. In the main basin the mercury separates from the pulp forming a lower stratum with the ore pulp riding on top of the mercury and between it and the uiidersurface of the rotating cover. At the rim of the basin the mercury overfiows through the port 10, themercur'y not being allowed to touch the top of the port and the ore pulp being restrained frompassing out of the basin over the surface of the discharging mercury by a counter current of cleaning water entered into the chamber 13 The scum which forms on the mercury body in theprocess of amalanodes through the porous bottoms through fthe pulp and globules of mercury and into gamation passes out on the surface of the mercury and is caught 1n the filter element 13a. The ore pulp riding on the surface of the mercury passes out over themercury coated bib 9 and away by the channel 23.

The electric current flow passes from the 4vthe cascade structure or into the mercury held in the basins 6, G, 6 returning to its Source by a return conduit 33.

`Thus `amalgamation is carried on in the mercury cascade where globules of mercury are rintimately mixed with the ore or pulp and in the main .basin where the pulp is moving under pressure between the surface of the mercury and the rotating cover, the bib acting asy an amalgamator of particles of mercury which may become detached ment vof parts without departing from thek spirit of the invention as claimed Having thus described my invention, I

' v claim:

1. In a mercury amalgamator in 4combinartion, a cascade comprising a series of annular terraces, a shallow mercury basin extending outwardly from the base of the cascade and having an annular retaining wall, a mercury discharge portvformed through the wall of the basin and extending above and below the normal mercury level, a rotatably mounted cover for the cascade and the basin adapted to rotate closely thereto and therecver, means for'feeding mercury to the head of the cascade and means for passing ore pulp over the cascade with the overflowing mercury.

2. In combination in a mercury amalgamatcr, a mercurycascade comprising a plurality of annular terraces, a rotatably mounted retaining cover conforming to thek contour of the terraces rand properly spaced therefrom, means for carrying mercury to the heady of the cascade, means for collecting and reuniting the mercury at the base of the cascade and means for passing ore pulp over the cascade with the flow of mer-V cury.` f Y I 3. In a mercury amalgamator in combination, a mercury cascade, comprising a plurality of annular terraces, a mercury basin formed in the top of each terrace, a rotatably mounted retaining cover conforming to'the contour of the terraces and properly spaced therefrom, means for admitting mercury to the head of the cascade, means for collecting and reuniting the mercury at the base of the cascade, and means for passing ore pulp over the cascade with the cascading mercury. f Y

4. In combination in a mercury amalgamator, an annular mercury cascade, a retaining cover for the cascade rotatably mounted y and conforming to the cascade structure and properly spaced therefrom, anode pockets formed in they cover adapted to carry electrick anodes whereby a current may be passed from them through a descending flow of pulp and mercury, means for delivering mercury to the head of the cascade, means for collects tably mounted over the cascade and over.

the basin-its inner and under surface conforming 'to' the `cascade structure and the basin and properly spaced therefrom forming a channel Vthrough which the pulp will flow in intimate association with the mer-V cury in its passage over the cascade and as a ioating stratum in passing through the basin. Y

6. A cover for a mercury cascade adapted -to be rotatably mounted having an inner surface conforming to the cascade structure and adapted to be spaced therefrom whereby a substantially parallel channel will be lformed between it andthe cascade surfaces,

anode pockets formed in the wall of the cover having porous bottoms and linings of insulatingmaterial adapted to carry replaceable anode elements.

Invv testimony whereof I have name to this specification.

Liiwis M. KELLOGG.

signed` my 

